I am Elissavet, a professional make-up artist and entrepreneur with activity in Greece and abroad.
I am a graduate of London Makeup Institute with certification from the International Make-up Association (IMA).
Knowing the difficulties, you will face as new makeup artists in a very demanding field, I would like to give you some useful tips to plan your professional future step by step.
Usually, schools offer us the knowledge but they do not prepare us for our next steps and most important on how to succeed.
There is the possibility to be employed in retail sales or you can work in a beauty salon but the biggest challenge and at the same time the most tempting is to build your own brand, your own personal business and highlight your talent.
Building your own brand is what we will focus on today.
It is not easy and above all it will take time... While you are laying the foundations for this venture you can work part-time to have some income (that's what I did too).
Also important…. besides talent and love for what you do, you should gain experience, networking, business thinking and organization.
GAINING EXPERIENCE
To start gaining some experience start with your family and friends. The more you practice the better you will get. Try makeup on all ages and genders. Later when you are on the set of a professional photo shoot you may need to do make up for a child, a man or a mature woman. Watch videos on youtube videos and learn from the best in the industry. I personally follow Lisa Eldrige. Mary Greenwel, Rae Morris etc. Then try and adjust your style.
NETWORKING
When it comes to networking, use your school contacts and especially those of your professors. They may help you in your first steps. Later and after you have built a small portfolio you need to create a contact list that includes:
Advertising Agencies
Model agencies
Photographers
Event planners
Contact them with an official e-mail, a beautiful presentation of your work and your personality and a link to your site. You may send a hundred e-mails… maybe more... even if you get two or three responses, you have opened the first and most important doors.
BUSINESS LOGISTICS
As entrepreneurs you have other responsibilities besides the artistic ones. Accounting, expenses, income, invoices, banks, rents, etc. will pass through your hands. Also, the creation of a site and its maintenance... like the rest of social media... Advertising... You need to have everything organized.
With these in mind, let's proceed to the practical part.
